Clip device for securing a diaphragm hunting call and the like

ABSTRACT

A clip device for securing an item is provided. The clip device is securable to an object. The clip device comprises a main body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge, and a back edge. A supporting wall extends from the front edge in general direction away from the top surface. A clip mechanism extends from the supporting wall over the top surface for securing the clip device to an object. An item retaining mechanism extends substantially along the back edge for releasably securing the item within the lip portion adjacent and against the bottom surface of the main body.

[0001] The present application is a continuation and claims priority ofpending provisional patent application Serial No. 60/426,143, filed onNov. 14, 2002, entitled “Clip Device for Securing a Diaphragm HuntingCall and the Like”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates generally to a clip device for securing adiaphragm hunting call and the like and, in particular, it relates to aclip device which can be releasably secured to a hat or other garmentfor holding a diaphragm hunting call and the like.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] During hunting activities, a hunter typically carries atremendous amount of gear and other hunting equipment. For quickresponse and reaction, it is important to maintain the essential gearsuch as weapons and hunting calls directly on the hunter to allow easyand quick access to the gear. If a hunter has to search and find theessential gear, valuable time is wasted and the opportunity for baggingthe desired game can be lost.

[0006] In the past, the hunter has typically maintained his or herdiaphragm hunting call in his or her pocket, either in the pants or inthe coat or jacket. Since many hunting activities are conducted incolder weather, a hunter usually wears gloves or other hand coverings tomaintain warmth and comfort. If a hunter has to fumble and search forhis or her hunting call in his or her pocket, he or she must firstremove the gloves and retrieve the hunting call from the pocketlocation. Once retrieved, the hunter uses the hunting call, places thehunting call back in the pocket, puts on the gloves, and readies his gunor rifle. This procedure causes valuable time to be lost and theopportunity for hunting success is reduced.

[0007] Accordingly, there exists a need for a clip device for securing adiaphragm hunting call and the like which can be easily secured to a hator other garment. Additionally, a need exists for a clip device forsecuring a diaphragm hunting call and the like which allows a hunter toaccess his or her diaphragm hunting call in an expeditious manner.Furthermore, there exists a need for a clip device for securing adiaphragm hunting call and the like which protects the diaphragm huntingcall from being damaged or otherwise injured.

SUMMARY

[0008] The present invention is a clip device for securing an item. Theclip device is securable to an object. The clip device comprises a mainbody having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge, and a backedge. A supporting wall extends from the front edge in general directionaway from the top surface. A clip mechanism extends from the supportingwall over the top surface for securing the clip device to an object. Anitem retaining mechanism extends substantially along the back edge forreleasably securing the item within the lip portion adjacent and againstthe bottom surface of the main body.

[0009] In addition, the present inveniton includes a method for securingan item to an object. The method comprises providing a main body,forming a lip around at least a portion of the main body, cantileveringat least one arm over the main body, scoring the main body, manipulatingthe main body onto the object; releasably securing the object betweenthe main body and each arm, and releasably securing the item within thelip portion.

[0010] The present invention further includes an assembly for securingan item to an object. The assembly comprises a main body having a topsurface and a bottom surface, clip means for securing the clip device toan object, and item retaining means for releasably securing the item tothe main body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a top perspective view illustrating a clip device forsecuring a diaphragm hunting call and the like, constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view illustrating the clip devicefor securing a diaphragm hunting call and the like of FIG. 1,constructed in accordance with the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a top plan view illustrating the clip device forsecuring a diaphragm hunting call and the like of FIG. 1, constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 4 is bottom plan view illustrating the clip device forsecuring a diaphragm hunting call and the like of FIG. 1, constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view illustrating the clip device forsecuring a diaphragm hunting call and the like of FIG. 1, constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 6 is an elevational front view illustrating the clip devicefor securing a diaphragm hunting call and the like of FIG. 1,constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

[0017]FIG. 7 is an elevational rear view illustrating the clip devicefor securing a diaphragm hunting call and the like of FIG. 1,constructed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a clipdevice, indicated generally at 10, for securing a diaphragm hunting call(not shown) or the like. Preferably, the clip device 10 of the presentinvention is molded from a durable plastic material having sufficientstrength and flexibility for mounting to a garment (not shown). However,it is within the scope of the present invention to construct the clipdevice 10 from other materials including, but not limited to, metal,fiberglass, ceramics, resin, wood, etc.

[0019] It should be noted that while the clip device 10 of the presentinvention has been described hereto and will be described hereafter assecuring a diaphragm hunting call, a person skilled in the art willunderstand that the clip device 10 of the present invention can be usedto secure other objects. In fact, the clip device 10 of the presentinvention is suitable for securing a wide variety of essentials suchfishing lures, i.e., flies, fishing line, and the like, flashlights,emergency medical supplies, etc.

[0020] As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the clip device 10 of thepresent invention has a top surface 12, a bottom surface 14, a frontedge 16, and a curved back edge 18. A supporting wall 20 extends fromthe front edge 16 of the top surface 12 in general direction away fromthe top surface 12. The supporting wall 20 can carry advertisements orendorsements 22 thereon, if so desired.

[0021] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the clip device 10 of thepresent invention additionally includes a first clip arm 24 and a secondclip arm 26 extending from the supporting wall 20 in a cantilever mannerover the top surface 12 of the clip device 10. The first clip arm 24 ispreferably spaced from the second clip arm 26 with each clip arm 24, 26having a protruding portion 28 for maintaining the position of the clipdevice 10 relative to the mounting location, such as a brim (not shown)of a hat (not shown) or other garment. Actual mounting of the clipdevice 10 to the brim of the hat will be described in further detailbelow.

[0022] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the clip device 10 of thepresent invention includes lip portion extending substantially along thecurved back edge 18 of the clip device 10. The lip portion 30 allows adiaphragm hunting call to be releasably secured within the lip portion30 to the clip device 10 adjacent and against the bottom surface 14 ofthe clip device 10, as will be described in further detail below. Aretaining tab 32 having a retaining protrusion 34 extends from the lipportion 30. The retaining tab 32 and the retaining protrusion 34 furthersecures the diaphragm hunting call within the clip device, as will bedescribed in further detail below.

[0023] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the top surface 12 of the clipdevice 10 includes a first slot 36 and a second slot 38 along the lengthof the top surface 12 on each side of the supporting wall 20.Furthermore, the bottom surface 14 of the clip device 10 includes afirst slot 40 and a second slot 42 opposite the first slot 36 and thesecond slot 38 of the top surface 12 along the length of the bottomsurface 14. It should be noted, as illustrated in FIG. 2, that the firstslot 40 and the second slot 42 of the bottom surface 14 extend throughthe lip portion 30 around the curved back edge 18 of the clip device 10.The slots 36, 38, 40, 42 of the top surface 12 and the bottom surface 14allow the clip device 10 to bend and flex to accommodate a variety ofbrim sizes and curvature when mounting to the brim of the hat.

[0024] Securing the clip device 10 of the present invention to the brimor a hat or the like will now be discussed. As will be understood by aperson skilled in the art, the description below is only one manner ofsecurement of the clip device 10 to the brim of the hat and othermanners of securement of the clip device 10 are within the scope of thepresent invention.

[0025] First, the clip device 10 of the present invention is positionedadjacent the brim of the hat with the curved back edge 18 adjacent thebrim. The clip device 10 is then manipulated such that the brim isreleasably received between first clip arm 24 and the second clip arm 26and the top surface 12 of the clip device 10. The clip device 10 isfurther moved onto the brim until the brim contacts the supporting wall20. The protruding portions 28 of the first clip arm 24 and the secondclip arm 26 contact the brim thereby releasably securing the clip device10 to the brim.

[0026] Next, the diaphragm hunting call is slid along the bottom surface14 of the clip device 10 within the lip portion 30 and under theretaining tab 32. The snug fit between the diaphragm hunting call andthe lip portion 30 and the retaining protrusion 34 of the retaining tab32 releasably maintain the diaphragm hunting call within the clip device10.

[0027] With the clip device 10 of the present invention, the diaphragmhunting call is readily available for use by the hunter. The huntermaintains easy access to the diaphragm hunting call without having tosearch and retrieve the diaphragm hunting call from an inconvenientlocation. Furthermore, with the clip device 10 of the present invention,the hunter can retrieve the hunting call without having to place thehunting gun or rifle in an inconvenient or dangerous position.

[0028] The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrativepreferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained inthe drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications andalternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been soshown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by thoseskilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may bemade therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limitedonly to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, theinvention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absenceof the specific elements which are disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A clip device for securing an item, the clipdevice securable to an object, the clip device comprising: a main bodyhaving a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge, and a back edge; asupporting wall extending from the front edge in general direction awayfrom the top surface; clip means extending from the supporting wall overthe top surface for securing the clip device to an object; and itemretaining means extending substantially along the back edge forreleasably securing the item within the lip portion adjacent and againstthe bottom surface of the main body.
 2. The clip device of claim 1wherein the clip means are a first clip arm and a second clip arm, thefirst clip arm and the second clip arm extending from the supportingwall in a cantilever manner over the top surface with the first clip armbeing spaced from the second clip arm.
 3. The clip device of claim 2wherein each clip arm includes a protruding portion.
 4. The clip deviceof claim 1 wherein the item retaining means includes a lip portion. 5.The clip device of claim 4 wherein the lip portion includes a retainingprotrusion extending from the lip portion.
 6. The clip device of claim 5wherein the retraining protrusion includes a retaining tab.
 7. The clipdevice of claim 1 and further comprising: a first groove and a secondgroove formed along the length of the top surface on each side of thesupporting wall.
 8. The clip device of claim 7 and further comprising: athird groove and a fourth groove formed along the length of the bottomsurface on each side of the supporting wall, the third groovesubstantially opposite the first groove and the fourth groovesubstnatially opposite the second groove.
 9. The clip device of claim 8wherein the third groove and fourth groove extend through the objectretaining means.
 10. The clip device of claim 1 wherein the back edgehas a substantially curved configuration.
 11. A method for securing anitem to an object, the method comprising: providing a main body; forminga lip around at least a portion of the main body; cantilevering at leastone arm over the main body scoring the main body; manipulating the mainbody onto the object; releasably securing the object between the mainbody and each arm; and releasably securing the item within the lipportion.
 12. An assembly for securing an item to an object, the assemblycomprising: a main body having a top surface and a bottom surface; clipmeans for securing the clip device to an object; and item retainingmeans for releasably securing the item to the main body.
 13. Theassembly of claim 12 wherein the main body has a front edge and a backedge, and further comprising: a supporting wall extending from the frontedge in general direction away from the top surface.
 14. The assembly ofclaim 12 wherein the clip means include a first clip arm and a secondclip arm, the first clip arm and the second clip arm extending from thesupporting wall in a cantilever manner over the top surface with thefirst clip arm being spaced from the second clip arm.
 15. The clipdevice of claim 14 wherein each clip arm includes a protruding portion.16. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the item retaining means is a lipportion, the lip portion extending substantially along the back edge forreleasably securing the item within the lip portion adjacent and againstthe bottom surface of the main body 17 The assembly of claim 16 whereinthe lip portion includes a retaining protrusion extending from the lipportion.
 18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the retraining protrusionincludes a retaining tab.
 19. The assembly of claim 12 and furthercomprising: a first groove formed along the length of the top surface; asecond groove formed along the length of the top surface, the firstgroove spaced from the first groove, a third groove formed along thelength of the bottom surface, and a fourth groove formed along thelength of the bottom surface, the third groove spaced from the fourthgroove.
 20. The assembly of claim 13 the back edge has a substantiallycurved configuration.